Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Saturday that the intensifying hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels in Yemen cannot be resolved through combat. In an interview with the state-run Iran Daily, Araghchi emphasized that conflicts regarding Yemen and the Bab al-Mandab Strait require diplomatic engagement rather than force.
Araghchi denied that Iran is responsible for the current state of affairs, asserting that the friction is driven by historical grievances between Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and other neighboring nations. The tensions, which were significantly reduced following a 2022 UN-brokered ceasefire, reignited recently when the Houthi movement initiated a blockade against Saudi ports and claimed responsibility for strikes on tankers.
This disruption poses a significant challenge to Saudi trade, particularly as it follows Iran’s own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. While Houthi representatives insisted on Friday that they are not obstructing general maritime traffic through Bab al-Mandab, they maintained that their blockade is strictly targeted at Saudi interests.
